Not all those who wander are lost.

Tag Archives: Black Tulip

Well, it finally happened. Her Majesty, Queen Gwyneth, Mistress of All She Surveys, had one of her people invite me for a morning tea in the Remembrance Garden.

Welcome, she said.

“Welcome,” she said, as if it were the most natural thing to be meeting up like this, after all this time. “I know I have promised you a face to face meeting for some time. In that time, I’ve had a lot of things to contend with, and that’s one of the reasons why I simply had you released from the Faery Realm in the Wylds. It had been too long.”

“I’ll say,” I muttered. “I hope you will forgive me for not using all the honourifics and proper forms of address, Gwyneth.”

I could feel my lips tightening. “How can you even call me that, after what you did to me?” Oh, I did not trust this woman. “You kept me a prisoner. That fucked with my livelihood. A livelihood I had to take up when I was catapulted from our home Realm into whatever this is.”

I know it must feel strange

“I know it must feel strange, for this to have waited so long,” Gwyneth said, “but in that time I’ve been busy building a new Realm after having had to abdicate the old one, putting together Awenia, so to speak. And I haven’t left other things out. I’ve searched, now that I have the Internet again, for Richard. For Emma.

“And what about Kevin?”

“Fen, I don’t think he made it,” Gwyneth said. “There was so much blood.”

“I don’t think any of us made it,” I said flatly. “I think we all died and were somehow transported. How else would you explain any of this?”

“Come and sit,” she said. “Let’s have some tea and discuss all of this— or as much as we can possibly get through in a couple of hours, OK? And then, then— I have a proposal for you.”

Fine, I said.

“Fine,” I said. I came here for tea: might as well have some tea.

“I didn’t know what to do,” Gwyneth said, probably anticipating another angry question from me. “That’s why I’ve waited so long. I didn’t have anything to offer you, any information, any idea of what happened. I had nothing to give you that you’d have valued.”

“And you do now?” I drummed my fingertips on the table.

“What my adoptive Father said to me was that I could never have gotten to the Realm we were in, this series of Realms, without already having Faerie blood in me. I think that has to be the same for you; otherwise you’d have perished.”

“Perished?” I snickered. “Who even says that?”

“Hello? PhD in English?”

Then we both laughed, and for a few seconds, it felt like it always did; like we were the best friends in the world and this was just another morning-after tea. And then, there was an awkward silence.

I broke it, finally. “So, you think Richard, Emma, and Kevin might not have had any Fae blood in them.”

“I don’t know what to think,” Gwyneth said. “I remember, not long after I first crossed into Jasper Cove, starting to receive some odd photographs; one was of Richard and me kissing.”

“But that had just happened, before we left the LARP,” I said. “How could you have a print out of something like that?”

“I don’t know,” Gwyneth replied. It felt heavy in the air.

She’d heard nothing from the others.

“I’ve heard nothing from the others,” she admitted. “Not even a peep, not the slightest indication that they were out there. So, when I finally realised who you were—do you remember that awful radio show?—I had to keep you. I told myself I’d explain it to you, that if two of us were together, we might draw the other two—three.” She hastily corrected herself.

“You really think Kevin didn’t survive.” I looked down at my left hand, the one with Kevin’s ring on it.

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that like attracts like,” I said. “Somehow, no matter where I end up, other svart alfar find me. And for whatever reason, when I was so confused and upset and everything was going wrong, I ended up on your altar. What’s to say the others won’t, eventually, as well?”

“It’s been years,” Gwyneth said. “Then again, it had been years for you as well.” She rested her elbows on the table, put her chin in her hands. Such a Gwyneth-like gesture. I almost liked her for a minute there. “OK,” she continued. “I have a proposal for you.”

“Should I be scared?” I asked.

“I don’t think so,” she replied. “Awenia will open to the public soon—well, soon is a relative term—and I’d like you to stay here and help Wulfrich with security.”

“Captain Wulfrich?” I responded. “From the Wylds?”

“Yes. He’s a loyal sort,” Gwyneth said. “If what you say is true, like attracting like and all, let’s stick together. Let’s make our story public. Maybe we’ll get some bites if we put out a line with bait.”

“Public?” I said. “I know something happened and the Veils have fallen, but really?”

“Oh, good,” Gwyneth said. “You know about that.”

“Wasn’t hard to deduce,” I replied. “One day I’m operating under cover of secrecy, every Realm a potential landmine, and the next day government agencies are fine with hiring me and I’m allowed to be me, at least some of the time.”

Gwyneth shook her head. “I can’t imagine how hard it must have been for you.”

“No, you can’t.” My right hand clenched reflexively into a fist.

“Svart will always be welcome here,” Gwyneth said. “I don’t have any illusions about anybody being more evil than anybody else, except in some isolated incidents where a being is more selfish and justifies horrible things more easily than most others. We are all the same, and the public must learn to see us as such.”

“So you put me in a position of some authority, and people will think you’re amazing and open-minded,” I retorted.

“So you stay here, you and I do some magick on the side, and maybe we scry Emma or Richard. Or Kevin.”

“Will you stop talking about Kevin as if he’s dead!” I couldn’t take it any more. “I’ve never taken this ring off, you know.”

“I suspected,” Gwyneth said. “So, do we have a deal?”

I stood up.

I stood up. “Reservedly,” I said, “we have a deal.” Then I whistled for Harris (yes, I call the dark unicorn Harris), and I just rode away while Her Smug Majesty stood there agape.

I turned away as Fen, or TAC, or whatever I am to call her, rode away on a unicorn of all things. As if life couldn’t get any weirder. Then, I climbed the stairs of the Serenity monument.

Halfway up, I stopped to think.

Halfway up, I stopped to think. What if she was right about all this? Could we find Richard, Emma and maybe even Kevin? I shook my head. Probably too much to ask for.

Hope.

But, if there’s any one thing that’s gotta me this far in my unbelievable and fantastical life, it’s Hope. I shall hope.

This whole “model” lark is great fun! After becoming the SpokesFae (their term, not mine) for Bhanél‘s Mad, Bhanél decided they liked the image I was portraying: a real Fae Queen representing their product. So they’ve created a new fragrance, and they’ve based it on the Fae lifestyle their customers are so enamoured by.

And, get this: It’s called Glamour. I’m sure there’s been another fragrance named that, somewhere out there. But the company says this one will be different, based on Fae Glamour, of course. Although as far as I know, there is no actual magic in the perfume formula: that would be quickly stopped by the various national boards that control drugs. Those poor agencies have now been tasked with overseeing irresponsible and manipulative uses of magic. I don’t even want to think about the inter political relationships inside those departments now.

Anyway, I love the scent, believe it or not, so it’s easy to stand around with big bottles of the stuff and look as if I want nothing more than to bathe in it.

Here is the first shot from the pre-release campaign!

Here is the first shot from the pre-release campaign! It will just feature the word “Glamour”, and I think one sentence, but I have no idea what their marketing department will have that sentence be. Would you believe it took nearly four hours to get these two photographs? There are other angles and poses as well, but this is going to be the one everyone associates with the product. And it’s not like very many people read the blog of the Queen of the Back 40 Faeryland, right?

And now I have to get on to the business of summer, which is going to mean changing some things around in Awenia. That of course means you’re going to see some landscaping photographs in the very near future!

So, yeah. I was talking about Clutie in my last post, and about how she just annoys me to pieces these days.

As it happens, the morning after my little excursion into the Wylds, I was just sitting on the couch, playing with one of those winged cats I like so much—I don’t know why; they just fascinate me. I was thinking about what I’d do in the Bower for the Winter Solstice, and whether or not I would need to get some demifae in to do a bit of heavy lifting (it always amuses me that I get creatures no longer than the length of my hand to do my heavy lifting), when I felt a familiar buzzing in my head.

See? I really was just minding my own business.

And the next thing I knew, I was arguing with Clutie.

And the next thing I knew, I was arguing with Clutie.

‘No’, I said. ‘I have no interest in trying on winter gowns today. As you can see, I’m very comfortable on this large sofa with this fascinating cat, and I intend to keep on doing this until noon at the very earliest.’

‘But Your Majesty’, Clutie reminded me, ‘I am still your handmaiden, no matter’ (and here she sniffed, perhaps judgmentally) ‘what kind of journey your soul is taking in to night at this moment. And being your handmaiden means that I must prepare you for events to come. And whether you like it or not, it is December, and that means Year Turn parties and Winter Solstice gatherings, and halls filled with light and music’. She sniffed again. ‘I will not have my Queen in a hall full of light and music wearing…’ she wrinkled her nose. ‘What exactly are you wearing, Your Majesty?’

‘Pink footie pyjamas’, I answered, with as much grace and dignity as a grown woman could have, saying the words “pink footie pyjamas”, while actually wearing pink footie pyjamas. Granted, that’s not a lot of grace and dignity.

Danae coughed to hide her laughter; it didn’t work completely, because Clutie turned and gave her the most potent eat shit look I think I’ve seen since that time I suggested to Maric that he dress up as Santa Claus for all the children of the village. Serious lead balloon, that was.

Not three minutes later, I was fuming as Clutie, Danae, and their cohort (whose name I didn’t catch) fitted me in to what was, granted, a gorgeous dress.

Not three minutes later, I was fuming as Clutie, Danae, and their cohort (whose name I didn’t catch) fitted me in to what was, granted, a gorgeous dress.

Clutie, who was ignoring my crankiness completely, flitted back and sighed with dramatic happiness. ‘Oh! I knew you would look marvellous in this one: I had it sent in specially for you. It’s made by Junbug.’

I was still bored when they posed me in front of a rose curtain and started messing with my hair again.

I was still bored when they posed me in front of a rose curtain and started messing with my hair again.

Honestly, I felt like a mannequin with the gift of speech when Clutie finally told me to smile and had her cohort (Sorcha! That’s her name!) snap a photo of me with that Polaroid camera I bought her in Nu Jyorck.

Honestly, I felt like a mannequin with the gift of speech when Clutie finally told me to smile and had her cohort (Sorcha! That’s her name!) snap a photo of me with that polaroid camera I bought her in Nu Jyorck.

‘You look like a goddess, Your Majesty’, she said.

I made a noncommittal noise, although in fact, I did like the dress. The shoes had little butterflies for heels, and I liked those too.

‘Don’t you think this one’s too formal?’ I asked Clutie after they’d all stopped pinning me in to it.

‘Don’t you think this one’s too formal?’ I asked Clutie after they’d all stopped pinning me in to it.

‘Can you ever really be too formal?’ was Clutie’s response. ‘Besides, you love this designer. It’s Silvan Moon Designs. You have this dress already in a sort of ice white colour, but I thought you might appreciate wearing blue and gold again, you know’.

I sighed. ‘Maybe in the summer’, I said, ‘we’ll go back to the Summer Court colours then.’

Clutie pouted. ‘You’d never wear this gown in summer’, she asserted.

‘This is true’, I replied. ‘Fine; I’ll think about it’.

‘This is true’, I replied. ‘Fine; I’ll think about it’.

Then she had Sorcha photograph me again, and we went on to the next dress.

At least this one was red, though it seems she has a thing for trains this year.

At least this one was red, though it seems she has a thing for trains this year.

‘This one’s also from Junbug‘, Clutie informed me as she did something with the crown she insisted on fitting on me “just to see how it looks”. Never mind that I’ve worn this crown dozens of times before and it always looks good: it’s one of Evangeline Miles’ designs, so it’s practically perfect in every way.

‘I do rather like the fit of this one’, I finally admitted.

‘I do rather like the fit of this one’, I finally admitted.

Danae and Sorcha made my nails and lips the same colour as the dress, and of course they glamoured the shoes to match as well. Proper little artists, they are.

‘How many more?’ I murmured wearily to Clutie.

‘Just one more’, she promised. ‘And I saved the best one for last, of course’.

‘Why do we play this game, if you always know the one I’m going to pick as my favourite before I do?’

‘Because it amuses me to know you well, Your Majesty’, she replied. I just about swatted her, but, you know. My nails were still wet.

‘Better colour those black’, she instructed to Danae and Sorcha. Sorcha blinked once, twice, and I’d swear steam came out of her ears.

‘Oh!’ I twirled! I giggled. ‘This is gorgeous, and you don’t even have to tell me who designed it.’

‘Oh!’ I twirled! I giggled! ‘This is gorgeous, and you don’t even have to tell me who designed it. I can tell by the colour alone. Why didn’t you tell me there was an Evangeline Miles design to try on? I never would have snapped at you, not even a little bit.’

Clutie sniffed again.

I rolled my eyes. ‘Are you coming down with a cold, Clutie dear, or are you just so fucking superior you can’t hold it in?’

At that, I laughed out loud. ‘Well, at least some things never change,’ I said. I spread my arms out. ‘Now, this dress makes me want to dance. Is there a Solstice Ball this year?’

Clutie clapped her hands. ‘Of course! Nothing could keep us from celebrating the Return of Light, My Queen.’

‘Good’, I replied. ‘This is for that, then. And wherever did you find this gorgeous jewellery?’

‘Oh, now, this is from Vae at The Plastik. She sent it over on approval, with compliments. Shall I send her some faerie gold?’ Clutie’s little helpers tittered at this.

‘No; I shall send her some real gold’, I replied. ‘No reason to make her grumpy. Besides, I think she may be a demon, and I’d rather not piss her off. Hard to tell, really, with some people. And I’ll visit Evie myself to tell her how gorgeous this dress is. And the crown of candles! You’ve outdone yourself, Clutie.’

Clutie puffed with pride. ‘Actually, Danae found this while we were touring round that faire you like to go to, the one about Roleplay. It’s from Paper Moon.’

‘Well, it’s perfect’, I declared. ‘Makes me feel creative. You know, I think we should put a carpet of grass in this atrium, give the tree something to feel under her feet, and us as well. What do you think of that?’

Sorcha grumbled that she never got to be in any of the photographs. ‘Oh, do stop moaning’, Danae said, and she levitated the camera to photograph us all together as I struck another dancing pose. ‘There, now’.

‘I could have thought of that’, Sorcha said, sullen.

‘But you didn’t’, Danae said.

Just then there was a crash from somewhere behind me, and musical cursing.

‘What the fuck?’ I turned, but Clutie obscured the arched doorway with a wall of mist.

‘Sorry, Your Majesty; they’re not ready for you yet’, she said.

‘Who is this “they”?’ I peered into the room, squinting, then raised my hand to clear the mist.

‘Oh, please don’t, My Queen’, Clutie said. ‘Kern’s so excited about this, and I don’t want to ruin his fun. Let’s just say there’s a surprise waiting for you when we’re done here’.

There is, in a Realm that doesn’t get a lot of traffic, a magic shop. It claims to be a “Magick Shoppe”, but that’s neither here or there. I discovered it by accident once when I was out looking for … oh, I don’t know. Something. Anyway, the fellow who runs the shoppe [sic] is a powerful wizard. Old-school wizard, the kind of guy who has a first floor (Americans: second floor) full of nothing but magical texts, which are not for sale, and a ground floor full of herbs, potions, ingredients, and pre-prepared spells, which are for sale. I got talking to this guy once about the differences between Fae magic and what he calls ceremonial magic, which I guess is a fancy name for wizarding magic, and he mentioned having helped some Fae once.

And, you know. He does custom work.

I hesitated at the door.

I hesitated at the door. It wasn’t yet mid-morning, and he’d said he preferred to work in the evenings. But then his unmistakable voice, deep like a euphonium and every bit as loud, came from inside the shop.

So I did. I told him what I wanted. He sent me out shopping on the high street of the town (And I did pick up some lovely things!), told me to come back in the afternoon and he’d have something for me.

It was a potion. “Best drink it here”, he said, “so I can gauge whether or not you’re going to have a bad reaction. We should know in an hour or two”.

It was vile. Not like Dyisi’s concoctions, which always end up tasting like Piña Coladas. I just about gagged. Had to stop halfway through.

“No, no”, he said. “You have to chug it like you’re at your first university party.”

I glared and finished the rest in one swig. When I could speak again (probably a full thirty seconds later), I said, “I never went to any university parties. I was too busy studying”.

“Well, that was your first mistake, Queenie.” He smirked.

That was the moment I first thought maybe I should have gone to Dyisi instead. But surely she’d tell Kern, and then he’d tell Clutie, and then all the Seelie Fae would be aghast at what I was doing and all the Unseelie Fae would turn up their noses… no. Best no-one knew.

Then the dizziness started. “It’ll pass”, he assured me. “Once you’re over it, you should get yourself home and to bed, though. You don’t want to go through this transition on the High Street.”

I thought back to my night with Mornoth. So many new thoughts and feelings swirling round inside my head. He’d promised to help me. I knew he’d help me more. But I needed something to bring out the darkness inside me, something that would make me not resist the winter I knew was inside my nature.

“Do you think we’ll have to repeat the process in the spring?” I asked.

“Unlikely, but my fee remains the same if we do”, he replied.

“Why not?”

“What I’ve given you is just a catalyst”, he explained. “There is a dark side to your nature; we are just helping it along a bit.”

Suddenly, my head felt a bit more clear. “Time to go?”

“Time to go.”

I hesitated in the doorway.

I hesitated in the doorway. Had I forgotten something? My head began to buzz strangely.

I just knew I’d forgotten something.

I just knew I’d forgotten something.

“Go now, Your Majesty!” He thumped his fist on the counter.

I flung the door closed and staggered into the street.

I flung the door closed and staggered into the street. It’s a good thing I do so much Realm-hopping; the way home is easy for me.

And when I got there, I didn’t pause to say even a cursory hello to Bran, who was busy with something anyway. I had to use the handrail going up the stairs, and I’m afraid I just threw myself into bed.

I don’t know how long I slept.

I also don’t know how I came to be awake in the garden, up on the memorial dais. But there I was.

I put a hand to my face, felt the etchings there.

I put a hand to my face, felt the etchings there. Noticed my hair had gone silver-white again. Could glamour to blonde quickly, but… a glance at my hand told me anything yellow would clash against my ashen skin. A crown that felt like silver wire. And. Oh, Lady of my Life, I felt the antlers on my head. I pulled at them, but they had clearly grown while I was sleeping, and come to think of it, I did have a bit of a headache.

That was when the world shifted.

That was when the world shifted. Everything went dark, the darkest night I could imagine. That’s also when the wolf appeared. He snuffled around the hem of my dress and seemed OK with being petted when I reached down. A white wolf. I had some half-remembered folklore in my head about white wolves, but I couldn’t call it up, probably because I was still dizzy, and—you know, antlers are surprisingly light. I wasn’t all that thrilled when my hand came away sticky with spiderwebs. Great. Why can’t I have shiny, pretty antlers like the ones Aoibheann got? Or at least an antler candelabra like Gwythyr. Why spiderwebs?

Then again, I thought, spiders aren’t all that bad.

Then again, I thought, spiders aren’t all that bad. It kind of made me giggle. The wolf snapped at something, which made me laugh even harder.

We made our way down into the enchanted garden.

We made our way into the enchanted garden. I was pleased to see it was still the same, though my beautiful forest had turned orange and red and yellow with autumn leaves. I didn’t see another living creature, so I asked the wolf the question that was in my mind. “What do you think all this is about?”

“Initiation”, said the wolf in a growling voice.

That’s when the feathers started falling.

That’s when the feathers started falling. I reached out for one, but they slipped through my fingers.

Glowing like a gaslamp, a will o’ the wisp appeared, then morphed into a tiny dark Faerie. A tiny dark Faerie, holding a raven twice his size in his hands. And a very sharp knife. He swiftly sliced through the raven’s flesh and cut out its still-beating heart. “For you, Your Majesty”, he said.

I stared.

“Hurry up now, or it’s no good: I’ll have to get another one.”

I couldn’t deny that it smelled good. He lifted the tiny heart toward my mouth. I didn’t swallow it whole. I savoured it. The bird twitched, and the Fae dropped it onto the ground, where the white wolf finished it off in a couple of bites. I wiped blood from my mouth.

Without another word, the Fae flitted off into the forest.

I tried to follow it, but it disappeared.

I tried to follow it, but it disappeared. I felt wings sprout from my shoulders then, and I was giddy again, twirling and dancing in the autumn woods. Around me, raven feathers swirled and dipped.

They were beautiful.

But what was it all for?

But what was it all for? I felt a chill in the air, and it sent a thrill through my body. I felt heavy with life and desire, as if the raven’s heart had somehow given me something more than the wizard’s potion could ever have done. Maybe I hadn’t needed the potion at all.

And what to do now?

And what to do now? I wondered only for the barest slice of a second. I felt the call of the Underhill. And I knew just who could help me with all the excess energy I seemed to have collected. “You want to stay here?” I asked the wolf.

A long time ago, I had another Second Life avatar. I mean, OK, I am not without alts now, but my primary avatar is Gwen Enchanted, and I am rarely on any of the others except for specific role-play reasons.

But once upon a time, back in 2007 or so, I had a Second Life Avatar who was called Avalon Blessed. Through Avalon, I discovered SL, but when I got tired of it, I forgot I had a premium account and changed banks, so Linden Lab deleted her and her sizeable inventory, and I was very sad when I came back to SL. So many of the creators I love most in Second Life I discovered through Avalon as well: Analog Dog Hair; The White Armory; Evie’s Closet; and of course, Wishbox.

“Wishbox?” I hear you saying. “Wow, I remember Wishbox. Wisp Jinn used to make the most beautiful, whimsical stuff, still super good today, but she hasn’t put anything out in ages. Wonder what happened to her?”

I discovered Wishbox, as Avalon, at a little mediaeval faire somewhere in SL, and I can’t tell you where it was, or when it was, and I am pretty sure the faire doesn’t exist any more. But it was something like the Faery Crossing, or maybe one of the Elven Foresty type places. And I am lucky, so lucky, to be acquainted with the magical Dyisi Oppewall, who knows and has introduced me to some amazing people.

Last night, she IMed me to say she was wearing a new Wishboxdress. I think my response was something lyrical and poetic like, “OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG!”

And then, magically, a few hours later, due to the crossing of Linden to mystical palm, I had my very own Realm.

So of course I wrote a story about it.

My mum is the meanest witch in the forest.

My mum is the meanest witch in the forest. But today, for the first time, possibly because she has a terrible headache, she’s sending me in to town all by myself, to buy herbs for her potions. I have a list, and her little purse jingling with copper. Mum is very serious about the way I dress: I’m only allowed to wear certain, light “virginal” colours, and my upper arms must be covered, “because men see your heart there.” I don’t know where she gets this stuff.

But today, I can be anyone I want to be.

But today, I can be anybody I want to be.

A few yards away from the door, I change the dress to lavender purple, just to see if she’s still watching me.

A few yards away from the door, I change the dress to lavender purple, just to see if she’s still watching me.

Nothing happens! She must have gone back to bed!

Nothing happens! She must have gone back to bed!

I change the dress to pink and look back, just to make sure. No face in the window.

I change the dress to pink and look back, just to make sure. No face in the window. I’m safe!

Suddenly I feel free! I grow bold, and I skip down the path she’s told me never to run on. And the dress becomes green.

Suddenly I feel free! I grow bold, and I skip down the path she’s told me never to run on. And the dress becomes green! Even the birds change colour. They are such nice birds!

But really, red is much more daring! She’d hate this, my mum would!

But really, red is much more daring! She’d hate this, my mum would!

I’m giddy with my small rebellion, and my hummingbirds feel it, too. I think they like being red.

I’m giddy with my small rebellion, and my hummingbirds feel it, too. I think they like being red!

Soon, I come to the castle ruin, the one I’m not allowed to go into. “Giles! Giles, I shall address my people from atop the turret!”

“Yes, yes, I mean it! Call them all! All the people must hear me!”

“Yes, yes, I mean it! Call them all! All the people must hear me!”

“People of Gwynlandia! Behold your Queen! From this day forward, all young ladies shall be able to dress however they like, no matter what their mothers say!”

“People of Gwynlandia! Behold your Queen! From this day forward, all young ladies shall be able to dress however they like, no matter what their mothers say!”

I know My Subjects were happy to hear this news. It makes me giggle. But now I shall have to hurry to get to the town before noon; mum will be cranky if I’m not back by teatime.

I know My Subjects were happy to hear the news. It makes me giggle. But now I shall have to hurry to get to the town before noon; mum will be cranky if I’m not back by teatime.

For the first time, I feel a little anxious about going to town alone. A nice red lipstick will make it all better. And of course a floral print on the dress, which mum would say makes me look like a little tart. And forget the sleeves—I’m done with sleeves!

For the first time, I feel a little anxious about going to town alone. A nice red lipstick will make it all better. And of course a floral print on the dress, which mum would say makes me look like a little tart. And forget the sleeves—I’m done with sleeves!

Despite the fact that mum would approve of this, I give the seedy pub on the edge of town a wide berth. But I have to stop to talk to the Harper Lady statue. She’s my favourite ever.

Despite the fact that mum would approve of this, I give the seedy pub on the edge of town a wide berth. But I have to stop to talk to the Harper Lady statue. She’s my favourite ever.

And now I’ve gone out the forest gate and reached the town gate. It’s not locked, and the guard gives me a little wink. I think that makes the dress flowers turn blue. I think that’s why they turn blue.

And now I’ve gone through the forest gate and reached the town gate. It’s not locked, and the guard gives me a little wink. I think that makes the dress flowers turn blue. I think that’s why they turn blue.

One day, I shall own a grand house in town, and I shall welcome visitors grandly, and I shall not mind what they are wearing, so long as they are happy wearing it!

One day, I shall own a grand house in town, and I shall welcome visitors grandly, and I shall not mind what they are wearing, so long as they are happy wearing it!

“Welcome, welcome all ye, to my grand home in town! All things inside are grand and beautiful! Come inside and see!”

“Welcome, welcome all ye, to my grand home in town! All things inside are grand and beautiful! Come inside and see!”

In the market, I try flirting with the baker’s boy, but it makes my whole dress turn red because I don’t know what to say. He smiles at me, though. Is it because of my bare arms?

In the market, I try flirting with the baker’s boy, but it makes my whole dress turn red, because I don’t know what to say. He smiles at me, though. Is it because of my bare arms?

Finally, I arrive at the herbalist’s door, and I have to change the dress to brown so she won’t tell my mum I’ve been a tart. And I know my day’s adventure is over, because now I have to get the herbs and hurry home and make mum some tea and listen to her tell me all the things I should not have done in town. I won’t tell her how many of them I did!

Finally, I arrive at the herbalist’s door, and have to change the dress to brown so she won’t tell my mum I’ve been a tart. And I know my day’s adventure is over, because now I have to get the herbs and hurry home and make mum some tea and listen to her tell me all the things I should not have done in town. I won’t tell her how many of them I did!

I cannot tell you how much I love this dress! It’s original mesh, fits beautifully to SL standard sizing, and the HUD to change all the colours works quickly and seamlessly. Wisp designed every bit of this herself, and she’s been working on this dress for a long time. Below, I’m going to give you some non-story bits and show you all the presets, plus the HUD for the dress. It’s amazing, well made, and very much worth the price, I promise. Yes, I paid for this dress. I would buy it again. I may buy it for friends, it’s so cool. If you are looking for something whimsical and wonderful, whether or not you remember Wishbox, I urge you to teleport to her store and take a look at this dress. There’s a demo you can try on, of course, and I hope she’ll soon have other things for you to discover.